New-York tribune., 1887-04-15
1FTER THE VETO.


The veto Of the High-License bill with its
pettifoggng, its rank anti Temperance seni-
mcnt, its vulgar gin-shop atmosphere, and its
coarse cynicism, must be regarded as full
warning and proch nation that so long as the
Office of Governor is lowered and disgraccd by
the incumbcncy of David B. Hill, so long will
any and every attempt to abb To the drink evil
or to diminish the political influence of the
rum power be met with the Veto 1t Is one
of tho penalties imposed upon New-York for
the blunder which put such power in the hands
of such a man. 1t my be necessary for the
people of the State to realize more fully than
they have vet done their own culpability and
accounia bility. The saloon in politics is the
explanation of Hills official position. No other
influence or clement could have created such
an Executive no other element could be repre-
scented by him. Bad mcan contemplate as
he is, however, the fact that the people put
him over them by their criminal condonation
of the evil influences which actively supported
him, must not be forgotten. dlill is humiliat-
Ing, even shameful but whatever he is it must
be realized that to tho extent Of passivity under
vicious and dcbasing politics even the cleaner
elements of tho Commonwealth are responsible
for him.
Being what he is and where he is there is
no hope for temperance reform at present
1t is impossible TO conceive Of any measure
which he would not find as good excuses for
vctoing as the flabby. impudcnt, prcposterous
pretcxts put forward by him on the Crosby
bill. Plainly, the man is given over body and
soul to the rimscllcrs, they representing TO his
turbid vision the most avaih bic political force.
OF course he does not care abstractly for their
interests Hc considers them only as conducive
to the furthcrance Of his own ends. He is an
agent Of low type TO be sure, but thorough.
going one for all that We're his intelligence
equal to his scGshncss ne would have signed
tho Crosby bill. But he has only the intellect
ual scope Of political hrkccpcr so he gets
his opinions from the dives and magniiics
the influence of the rummics, his friends and
counscols. lie must be rockoncd with hence
forth as wholly in the hands Of this element.
Having deliberately chosen his side he will
stick TO it. for he thinks no doubt that he has
counted the cost. But the obvious fact that
no hope can bc rcposcd in him. and that he
must be regarded rs the downright enemy OF
temper nee rcform-togcthcr with his scrvilc.
partisan followers, who accept his brutal blum
dcring as their party policy without a murmur
or qucston-docs not affect the duty of the
friends Of tcmpcrl nee one whit. 1t is for them
to do all in their power toward cffocting some
remedial legislation while tho session contin-
ucs. Their responsibility ends with the limit
of their political power.
The Veddcr Liquor Tax bin can be modified
so as TO avoid the hypocrtical nd grossly in
consistent objections employed by the Gov
crnor against the Crosby bill. Already il ap-
plies TO the whole State. and il is not license
but tax BILL What il most needs Is better
provision for the restriction of the drink evil in
cities Of the first class. BY cngrafting upon it
some Of the provisions OF the Crosby bill which
meet this point it could be converted into q
measure which would pcrplex the best brains
of Governor Hill and his council Of rumsollcrs
to find reasons for vctoing. For il would not be
special legislation ; it would not apply with Sc
verify TO the cities which do not stand in need
of such legislation, and it would effect at best
a moiety Of what high license is capi bic Of. In
the circumstances this is probably the best that
can DO done at the present session. Next session
a License bill can be prepared which will
compel tho Governor to expose himself still
moro, III that DC possible. NOW hcre Is not
time for that, but as something ought to be
done. if only to prove the determination OF the
friends Of temperance reform, the amended
vcdder bill seems TO offer the best opportunities
Of cffccting an advance. OF course, the Gov
crnor must be given no further chances of
raising pcttifogging objections. The next bill
must be drawn with the utmost care and with
that end in view. And it would bc well TO
have an amended copy Of the Voddcr bill pre-
pared and put in circulation without delay. the
time for action being so short.
THE ATLANTIS SPEED.